Page 59 of Midnight Wishes

She nodded, acquiescing to their secret sharing from so early on, even though she had to know he was far from drunk. After one glass of wine at the restaurant, he’d switched to water at the gallery so he could drive them home. He wondered how long it would be before she realised how much he treasured this. How much he needed those moments of real connection between them.

Moving his head so he could see her, he stared into the stunning eyes he’d already fallen so hard for. ‘I’m really angry at myself for letting that loser split my lip open. I want to kiss you so fucking badly.’

Sarah’s expression opened, the hardness she often directed at him melting away. Then she leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss to the corner of his mouth that hadn’t been hit. It was achingly gentle, and for a second, he believed she could feel the same tenderness for him as he did for her. And even though she’d rejected him the first time he’d asked, told him it wasn’t something they did, he couldn’t help asking her again. ‘It’s late. Do you want to spend the night? I’ll feel better knowing you’re not trying to get home by yourself.’

Indecision was clear on Sarah’s face.

Alex flexed his hand on her waist, eyes focused on her neck. ‘This isn’t me trying to seduce you after the night you’ve had. You take my bed, if you’re happy to share with Celine. I have a pullout sofa in my office. I can crash in there. Just…stay.’

Gentle fingers carded through his hair, lifting his face until their eyes met. ‘Okay.’

Chapter 28

SARAH

Scary Love | The Neighbourhood

As the soundof running water filtered through from the en suite, Sarah sat on Alex’s bed, weighing her options to avoid thinking about him in the shower.

She could still leave, though the prospect of catching a train home at that hour was deeply unappealing. She could go to the guest bathroom, remove her makeup, change into the clothes Alex had left for her, and crawl under the covers of his luxuriously comfortable bed. The bed that—despite the freshly laundered scent of its sheets—smelled faintly of his expensive cologne. The one she’d never admit to grabbing a sample of the last time she’d topped up on toiletries.

Or…

She tugged on the bow at her waist and slipped out of her dress, letting the black satin skim down her body on its journey to the floor.

He’d said they didn’t have to do anything. But what if shewantedto?

Squaring her shoulders, she marched through the door he’d left slightly ajar. One of Alex’s arms was braced against the wall, the power in his back evident even through the steamed up glass. He turned only at the slight squeak of the shower door opening.

‘Everything okay?’ To his credit, Alex’s eyes were glued to her face, as if walking into his shower butt naked wasn’t an invitation. It was…endearing. That even after seeing her body so many times, he was letting her guide whether he was allowed to look.

She had no such qualms, letting her eyes skip away from his face down his body. A large swath of opaque black plastic wrap covered his left pec. ‘New tattoo?’

Alex nodded with a heavy swallow. ‘That’s where I ran off to earlier.’

‘What is it?’

His lips curled up. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’ Sarah glared at him. He laughed—that raw, perfect,reallaugh she’d come to crave. ‘I’ll show you when it’s healed, Princess.’

Then, repeating a gesture he’d done at the restaurant, he scratched the back of his head. How pathetic that that tiny expression of self-doubt piercing his cocky exterior made her want to fall into his arms.

He continued talking, softer than before. ‘Why are you here?’

‘I figured you could use some help.’ She nodded her head towards the bandage on his right hand. Which set her eyes roving in the vicinity of his hips, widening as she took in how hard he was. When she returned her attention to his face, a small smile was pulling at his lips. Close to his trademark smirk, but…softer somehow. Some sheepish vulnerability peeking through.She thought back to his posture when she’d walked in. ‘Am I interrupting?’

His eyebrows drew together. ‘Are you asking if I was jerking off to thoughts of you? While you were in the next room? With thedoor open?’

‘It would be bold of me to assume—’

‘Tonight… Forone night, can we hit pause on the bullshit? You just let me run my hands all over your body, telling you I think you’re gorgeous and amazing and—’

‘I believe the wordspectacularwas used,’ Sarah said helpfully. It prompted a smile that could best be described as bashful, and all she wanted was to kiss it off his stupid, handsome face.

‘Now that same body is wet and naked in my shower. I think it’s pretty obvious this’—he gestured to his hips—‘is for you.’

And yet, Alex hadn’t moved an inch since she’d entered, leaving her with all the power. Letting her decide where they’d go.

Sarah took a step towards him, bringing them chest to chest. ‘I guess I’d better take care of it then,’ she said. And dropped to her knees.

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